Method of forming a running thread nipple from flat stock



K. BERGER Nov. 22, E933..

METHOD OF FORMING A RUNNING THREAD NIPLE FROM FLAT STOCK 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1936 INVENTOR Kom/L mais ATTORNEY New. 22, 193g. Kl, BERGER 2,l37,797

METHOD OF FORMING A RUNNING THREAD NIPPLE FROM FLAT STOCK Filed April 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'iE-'55.. Figli..

Koe/VEL /ERGLR EW ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF FORMING A RUNNING THREAD NIPPLE FROM FLAT STOCK 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a running thread nipple, etc., formed from llat stock.

The invention has particular reference to the articles themselves and also to methods for the manufacture thereof.

Prior to this invention it has been customary to manufacture nipples for electric fittings, lamps, chandeliers, etc. from seamless tubes threaded on die threading machines. This construction is very expensive contrasted with the constructionsand methods for producing similar articles according to this invention.

An object of this invention is to construct a yrunning thread nipple from flat stock which is characterized by a sheet material in hollow cylindrical or tubular form having its edge portions adjacent each other, and threads on the outer surface thereof formed either prior or subsequently to the formation of the cylindrical or tubular form. The type of sheet metal is immaterial and may be steel, brass, aluminum, etc. and alloys.

Still further the invention contemplates arranging the edge portions of the cylindrical form in various modified conditions. For example, the edges may be slightly spaced, or may be touching, or mayv be interlocked. The interlocking arrangement is superior since it prevents a twisting of the cylindrical or tubular form when nuts or other devices are engaged on the nipples. Of course, if the sheet metal is of heavy enough gauge, the interlocking edges may be dispensed with.

Furthermore, the invention proposes to construct the tubular form either of true cylindrical form or related shapes. For example, the shape may be hexagonal, octagonal, etc. In the latter forms, the thread may be arranged only on the corners of the shape, though if desired, they may be throughout the entire area.

A further object of the invention is to produce a method for the manufacture of running thread nipples which is characterized by stamping a flat metallic strip with parallel grooves longitudinally or at an angle to the parallel edges thereof, cutting the strips into pieces of a proper length to control the perimeter of the desired nipple at a proper angle and bending the strips into the cylindrical form, or Vsubstantially the cylindrical form, as previously explained. The proper angle referred to above may be one at which the threads thereof will be in proper ledge contact when the material is bent to form the l nipple.

. another method for forming the grooved strips A still further object of the invention is to produce a method for efliciently bending the cut strips, which method is characterized by placing the strips against threaded rollersand bending the strip with rollers. The purpose of the thread- 5 ed rollers is to have their threads engage the threads on the strip and thus prevent damage to the threads on the latter element.

A still further method of manufacturing the running thread nipple according to this inven- 10 tion consists in forming tubes or tubular shapes from sheet metal and stamping, rolling, or cutting threads thereon after the formation of the tubular shapes, or prior to their formation.

Another object is the construction of a device 15 as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref- 20 erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and-to theV appended claims in which the Various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth,

In the accompanying drawings forming a ma- 25 terial part of this disclosurez Fig. l is a plan View of crude apparatus to show the method of forming grooved strips from which the running thread nipples are made.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1. 30

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modification thereof.

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational View looking in the direction of the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of another apparatus to 35 show another method for forming the grooved strips.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of apparatus to show 0 according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view looking in the direction of the line of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of a fragmentary portion of a metallic strip imprinted With threads according to the rst step of manufacturing a running thread nipple as taught by this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional 50 View taken on the line Ill-I ll of. Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is a perspective View of an apparatus for bending the cut piece from the strip, partially into tubular form.

Fig. 12 is a perspective View showing additional 55v apparatus for changing the formation of the piece shown in Fig. 11 into tubular form.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of apparatus to finish the tubular formation.

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of a finished running thread nipple.

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of Fig. 14.

Fig. l5 is a perspective View of a nipple similai` to the one illustrated in Fig. 14 but in which the end portions thereof are in intimate contact with each other.

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of a nipple according to this invention, in which the end portions are interlocked.

Fig. 18 is a perspective View of another running thread nipple constructed according to another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 19 is a perspective View of a still further modified form of the nipple.

Fig. 20 is a perspective View, parts thereof being shown in section, of another apparatus for threading a nipple according to this inventio` Fig. 21 is a side elevational view of other apparatus for threading a nipple according to another method of this invention.

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 2l.

The running thread nipple, according to this invention, may be manufactured from a strip of material I0 (see Fig. 9) upon which there are stamped parallel grooves II at an angle to the edge of the strip, corresponding to the pitch of the thread.

This strip is then out into pieces, for example, along the line AB and each piece is then turned or formed into tubular or similar formation. The grooves II may easily be impressed by a stamping, or cutting, or a scraping operation.

These grooved strips may be made by numerous methods, several of the preferred ones being shown on the drawing. In Figs. 1 and 2 there is a base member 3| upon which a strip of material Illf is rested, and moved when desired by a pair of feeder rollers 32 and 33. These rollers are superimposed and engage the top and bottom sides of the strip Illf. They are supported upon the member 3I by brackets 34.

A grooved roller 35 is arranged at a slight angle to the longitudinal of the strip Il!f and is adapted to be moved at said angle across the strip If. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the full lines show the roller in one position. The dot and dash lines, indicated by reference numeral 35 show the roller as being moved across the strip. The lines IIr upon the strip indicate the grooves formed by the grooved roller 35 when moved across the strip. The lines AB and AB divide off a piece of the strip, which is to be used to form one of the running thread nipples.

In Figs. 3 and 4 another method for grooving the strips is illustrated which includes a die 3l formed with inclined grooves 37 upon its bottom face which are adapted to be impressed in the top face of the strip IIIf. After each impression of the die the strip must be advanced to a new position.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another method is illustrated for grooving the strip I0f. This method consists of brackets 38 rotatively supporting superimposed rollers 39 and 4D. One of these rollers, namely the roller 39, is formed with grooves 39 arranged at a slight angle. When the strip I0f is drawn between these rollers, the grooved roller will impress grooves on the strip IIIf.

In Figs. 7 and 8 another method is shown for forming the grooved pieces which consists in having superimposed rollers 39n and 40 supported on brackets 38. The roller 39a has transverse grooves on its periphery which are adapted to impress parallel grooves IIg in the strip If. These grooves are parallel to the edges of the strip. The inclined effect is then obtained by cutting out pieces from this strip at a slight angle, as indicated by the dot and dash line boxes 4I and 42. Thus, when these pieces are cut out the result is the same as though the grooves thereon were formed at a slight inclination to the sides of the pieces to form the pitch of the thread of the finished nipple.

In Figs. 11 to 13 one method is illustrated for shaping the piece of the strip which has been cut as shown in Fig. 9. The piece, indicated by reference numeral I is placed across a pair of rollers I2 and I3 which are slightly spaced from each other. These rollers have their peripheries formed with threads I4 corresponding in pitch with the threads impressed upon the piece I0. The piece is so placed that the threads are in intimate engagement with the threads I4. An implement, tool or punch I5 is then forced downwards between the rollers I2 and I3 to partially shape the piece IIJ into cylindrical form by turning the sides thereof upwards. The partially shaped piece IEB' is then engaged upon rollers I2 and I3 which are spaced closer together than the rollers I2 and I3, and with which a bending element I5- cooperates. This bending element is adapted to be moved so as to further bend the side portions of the piece I0 and thus substantially form the tubular piece. The nearly iinished tubular piece is then engaged on a rod ISC Supported by a stand |511. Several forming members I5e are then simultaneously forced against the sides thereof.

In Figs. 14 and 15 a finished running thread nipple is shown constructed according to this invention. This nipple consists of sheet metal Il!a in hollow cylindrical form having its edge portions Il]b slightly spaced from each other, and formed upon its outer side with the threads II. A nipple thus constructed is very inexpensive in comparison with present day nipples.

In Fig. 16 another form of the invention has been disclosed in which the end portions II)b of the material of the nipple are in intimate contact with each other. In other respects this form is identical to the previous form and similar parts may be recognized by the identical reference numerals.

In Fig. 17 another modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior forms merely in the construction and arrangement of the end portions thereof. More particularly, this nipple has end portions I)c which are inter-engaged with each other. Various designs of inter-engaging portions may be used according to this invention. The one shown on the drawings is one in which a central projection Hic o-n one of the end portions Illc engages into a receiving opening in the other end portion.

l It should be noted that these inter-engaging parts ning threads, have portions thereof cut away. More specifically, a plurality of longitudinal grooves Nif extend along the nipple cutting the thread II into various segments. This nipple may be threaded into a nut with the same ease as the nipples shown previously. The only distinction is that there are passages beneath the nut which are beneficial for known reasons. These grooves If allow oil to be passed between the nut and the nipple to loosen rust and allow these parts to be separated.

In Fig. 19 a still further modied form of the invention is disclosed in which the nipple, while of tubular form, is not truly cylindrical. 'Ihe nipple here shown is of hexagonal form. The threads Ha are continuous around the periphery of the nipple. The reason the threads are continuous is that the nipple was constructed from the threaded piece l0. If the nipple is threaded after the tubular formation, it is merely necessary that the corners of the hexagonal figure be threaded. Various other forms besides the hexagonal form may be used.

In Fig. 2O a crude apparatus is shown merely for the purpose of illustrating a method by which the formed tube may be threaded. There is a y thread forming roller I8 xed upon a spindle I9 rotative on stationary standards 20 and 26. Moveable arms 2| are connected with the standards 2l! and 26 which support a spindle 22 upon which there is mounted a guiding or holding roller 23. The spindle 22 is free in the arms 2l so that it may be partially withdrawn to permit removal and r placement of tubes on the holding roller 23. A tube 24 formed of sheet metal is engaged on the holding roller 23 which is forcing one side of the tube against the forming roller I8 by a standard hydraulic press. A pulley 25 is mounted on the spindle I9 by which the spindle may be turned so that threads are impressed on the tube 24. The tube 24 may move longitudinally as is necessary for accommodating the pitch of the threaded roller I8. After a complete revolution of the tube 24 it is nished and completely threaded.

In Figs. 21 and 22 another method is illustrated for threading pre-finished tubes. In this form a core 26 is shown holding a tube'2'l of hexagonal shape. The core 26 and tube 2l are placed in threaded jaws 28. These jaws are loosely supported on a base 29. The inner faces of the jaws 28 are formed with the thread iinpressions 28. Each of the jaws 28 has a tapered projecting portion 29 adapted to be engaged by the tapered portion of a ring 30 slidably mounted over the jaw portions 28. When the ring 30 is moved to operative positions it forces the jaw portions together against the tube 2l so that the thread is impressed on the surfaces of the tube by the inner surfaces of the jaws 28.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a Vmethod for manufacturing grooved strips for use in running thread nipples, the steps of forming parallel grooves upon a strip, longitudinally thereof, parallel with the sides thereof, and extending continuously along the length of said strip, and then cutting pieces from the strip transversely of said strip and at angles to the grooves to obtain the proper pitch of the thread in the finished nipple.

2. In a method for manufacturing grooved running thread nipples, the steps of forming parallel grooves upon a strip, longitudinally thereof, parallel with the sides thereof, and extending continuously along the length of said strip, and then cutting rectangular pieces from the strip transversely of said strip and at angles to the grooves to obtain the proper pitch of the thread in the finished nipple.

3. In a method for manufacturing grooved running thread nipples, the steps of forming parallel grooves upon a strip, longitudinally thereof, parallel with the sides thereof, and eX- tending continuously along the length of said strip, and then cutting rectangular pieces with their sides adjacent each other from the strip transversely of said strip and at angles to the grooves to obtain the proper pitch of the thread in the nished nipple.

KORNEL BERGER. 

